Social Networking

What will it take to motivate you? How about millions?

PublishedMarch 2, 2013

A multimillionaire in New Mexico wants you to get off the couch and go searching for hidden treasures.

You know how yesterday in my article about Joan Rivers I told you that I thought the world would be a happier place when I was thin and that somehow I would follow rainbows find pots of gold and discover the last living unicorn. But no such luck? Well maybe Forest Fenn has other plans for me.

Mr. Fenn believes that too many Americans spend their free time playing video games and watching TV said that he hoped a chest filled with millions of dollars in gold coins, diamonds and other gems will prompt people to get out and explore the outdoors.

Mr. Fenn has a self-published autobiography, which contains a map to the treasure and a poem with 9 clues in it. The book is titled “The Thrill of the Chase.” A title that no doubt comes from Fenn’s own love of rare artifacts, a passion he has been devoted to for over seventy-three years.

Now, I am one to call a spade and spade, so let me say this, what a BRILLIANT marketing strategy! You write a book that contains clues to a buried treasure worth millions of dollars. Whether people want to read your story or not, (Which let me say I do!) you have a whole other sales tactic because they stand to win millions of dollars from reading your book.

Give things away and people will come flocking. It’s just a sad truth. People rarely do something for nothing these days, we forget too often to stop and be kind to each other, half the time we even forget to stop and say hello. I have to tell you that is one of the things I love most about runners. No matter where you go you can be running down the side-walk and you can almost always bet someone will make eye contact, give you a nod of the head, or often times, a wave or a hello. Runners are very courteous and friendly to each other.

Bloggers experience the same thing. In fact when I first started my blog I realized very quickly that most of the successful blogs did big giveaways to help boost numbers and readers. There was a time in the beginning that I was after that, a big following, a huge readership, and then I realized that I was investing more time in that then I was in what really mattered to me, becoming a trainer, helping people find the fun in fitness and fundraising for the organizations I am passionate about to help make sure that other people have the chance at a happy healthy life. I don’t have a big following with thousands of likes and I may never, but I can pride myself on the fact that according to my site stats, my page got as many views when I talk about my experience with Reconstructive Plastic Surgery as it did when I gave away my 4th Generation IPod touch to try to inspire people to get in the gym with music.

That is what I love about Forest Fenn’s story, it may be a brilliant marketing strategy, but it is also an amazing story of someone who wants to motivate others to break out of the unhealthy couch potato stereotype, get fit and have fun doing it. Since this is my own personal goal as well I feel I have found a kindred soul. Maybe I’m overly sentimental, but my Father was Irish, St. Patrick’s Day is approaching, a day that was always celebrated in my house because it was also the day my Father choose as my parent’s wedding day. My Dad LOVED and I mean LOVED rainbows and if my Father had heard my Negative Betty comment yesterday he would have told me a story about why rainbows existed. He would have reminded me that nothing worth having ever comes easy. He would have reminded me that there are still pots of gold in this world and that sometimes that magical unicorn you are looking for sometimes appears in a different form than you expect. He’d remind me that good people are hard to find, rare gems, but that they are out there. ( BTW I love stories like this where I get to reference my Dad and post his picture! ) And if my Dad was still here, and he had told me those things, and he read this story this morning; he’d have sat it in front of me, winked at me and said, “See there Jaime Lee, I told you, now that man, that’s a hero.” I talk about people who I consider my personal heroes Chris Powell, Ellen DeGeneres, NKOTB, if you ever notice, it’s the people who have taught me what I know about kindness and generosity, about not just helping people, but really caring about the people who you help and appreciating the people who help you.

The article I read on Today News ( See: Want to find his hidden treasure worth millions? Head outdoors ) said that Fenn has received close to 7,500 emails about the treasure some filled with questions and looking for guidance and some just wanting to thank him for the inspiration and motivation he has inspired in them. I will be buying Forest Fenn’s book, even though I likely won’t ever make it to the location of the treasure to look for it, I love the concept, I just want to be a part of the whole experience and I can’t wait to follow this story and see how long it takes for someone to find this buried treasure. This blog is my way of saying thank you, for showing me that there still are pots of gold in life. I just love it when something like this happens right after I make a comment like that; I believe it is the Universe reminding me who I am and re-instilling my positive outlook and pay it forward theology.

If you happen to read “Thrill of the Chase” yourself or you happen to go looking for the treasure, or Forest Fenn has motivated you into the outdoors or a healthier and happier life please share your experience with me! I’d love to hear it! You can email me at pandora@desperatelyseekingslender.com

“As I have gone alone in thereAnd with my treasures bold,I can keep my secret where,And hint of riches new and old.Begin it where warm waters haltAnd take it in the canyon down,Not far, but too far to walk.Put in below the home of Brown.From there it’s no place for the meek,The end is drawing ever nigh;There’ll be no paddle up your creek,Just heavy loads and waters high.If you’ve been wise and found the blaze,Look quickly down, your quest to ceaseBut tarry scant with marvel gaze,Just take the chest and go in peace.So why is it that I must goAnd leave my trove for all to seek?The answers I already knowI’ve done it tired, and now I’m weakSo hear me all and listen good,Your effort will be worth the cold.If you are brave and in the woodI give you title to the gold.Happy Hunting!”

Forest Fenn, I wish I could meet you and shake your hand, your “If I’ve got to go, well I outta just let somebody else have as much fun with this as I have,” attitude reminds me so much of my Father. This is just the sort of thing that my 1926 born, old fashion Texan to the roots Dad would have done if he had the means to do it. I’m always so touched by the generosity of others, it is people like you that keep my faith in humanity renewed and my spirit to motivate and help others kindled. As I said when my Father passed away a couple of years ago, I don’t believe they build men like you and my Father anymore. I think you are a dying breed in our society and it saddens me. I hope that others are learning from your examples so that we may pass it on for generations to come.

About (Pandora) The Author

Jaime "Pandora" Williams

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